Nancy Drew... Trouble Shooter (1939)

Nancy Drew (Bonita Granville) and her attorney father (John Litel) go to a rural area of the state to help defend an old family friend (Aldrich Bowker) who is accused of murder. Directed by William Clemens, this movie isn't based on any of the Nancy Drew books by Mildred Benson (writing under the pseudonym of Carolyn Keene) but uses the series' characters. Of the four Nancy Drew movies that Granville starred in, this entry is probably my favorite. None of the four films captured the innocence of the Nancy Drew books and only two of them were actually based on the books. This one is rather simple in execution but the mystery is engaging and Granville and Frankie Thomas (as her reluctant boyfriend Ted) are appealing youngsters. With Charlotte Wynters, Renie Riano, Willie Best and Edgar Edwards.